Hobby and whiskered tern

Submitted by Martin on Mon, 06/10/2008 - 7:15pm

Though autumn is well underway, there has been something of a dearth of migrants on Cheung Chau (and in Hong Kong generally) so far. Rather more interesting today, though - with a Northern Hobby giving superb views, as it caught dragonflies over Italian Beach in the afternoon; this falcon is like a smaller, more agile version of a Peregrine, specialises in catching aerial feeders such as swallows and dragonflies. Maybe my first Hobby on Cheung Chau. Also, soon afterwards, a Whiskered Tern hawking over the typhoon shelter - this came very close to us; an adult moulting into winter plumage.

This morning, I'd seen an Emerald Dove (not a migrant) very close to me, above Fa Peng Valley - it was perched on a fence and, unusually for this species, sat there looking at me, before eventually flying off. Also in the morning, heard one Arctic and one Yellow-browed warblers.

A few days ago, I heard an Ashy Minivet over Fa Peng Valley. Otherwise, even usually common Arctic Warbler scarce - only around three of these so far this autumn.